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She shakes her head. “You’re just fine.”
Relief settles over me. For some reason, I sense that I’ve needed to hear that for a long time, but I can’t remember why.
Still, I enjoy the sensation of lightness. Of knowing I have nothing to worry about. “Am I in a hospital?”
“No. You’re in the school infirmary. Cooper is in the next room.”
As soon as she mentions his name, I remembersomething, a flash of him slumped down on the pebble beach. “He came to help me. Is he okay?”
“He was beaten up,” Elysia says. “But he’s recovering quickly. He suffered some bruises and has a concussion, but he’s going to be just fine.”
“Good.” I sip my water again. “When can I leave?”
“Hopefully today. You’re here to make sure you recover okay. Aside from a couple of cuts and bruises, you’re completely fine.”
“But I used all my magic, and it made me pass out.”
“Yes,” she says. “It does happen to inexperienced auras from time to time. All you need is some rest, which you can do in your own room, so I don’t see the harm in letting you leave later today. I’ll check your vitals, make sure you eat something, then you can go.”
“Can I see Cooper?”
“He’s sleeping right now, but I’ll let you know when there’s a good moment to pop in.”
“Thanks.” I sigh. “How long was I passed out?”
“Oh, about twelve hours. You had a good sleep, I’ll say that much.” She pats my shoulder. “You’ll be right as rain very soon.”
She turns to leave, and I close my eyes against the bright lights overhead. But I’ve had enough sleep, and now I’m wondering why there are electrical lights in here when the rest of the castle is lit by candles. Perhaps Elysia needs them to do her work.
About an hour later, Elysia brings in a bowl of porridge and honey that I devour. Then I drink more water and begin to feel human again. Or aura—auran?—I guess. Considering I’m human plus more these days.
The thought of draining myself of magic is so freaky. I can’t even remember the spells I used. Octavia held me under the water. I remember my lungs burning. Then she was thrown back, but she carried on, flinging me around like a ragdoll. Cooper turned up to stop her, but she knocked him out. I don’t know what else happened.
“Knock, knock.” Laila’s deadpan voice interrupts my thoughts. “I brought you Cheer Bear.” She pulls the teddy bear from her tote bag and throws it at me before approaching the bed.
“Aw!” I hold him close. “From your personal collection! It means a lot.” I grin.
Suddenly, I get the feeling I’m missing some context about the teddy bear. Like Laila showing me what was underneath her bed meant more than just Cheer Bear here. That led me to pull at another thread, one that seems to lead nowhere in my mind.
“Are you feeling better?” she asks.
I nod. “So much better. Do you know what happened? Does the school know?”
Laila sits on the chair by my bed and leans forward. “Apollo said he found you and Cooper passed out on the beach. Octavia had attacked you. She went insane, apparently. I guess it happens with empaths sometimes. Like, once every hundred years or something.”
“Just our luck, then,” I mutter.
“They found Nathan. He’s alive. She drank his blood and kept him in the crypts. Which is fucking dark.” She snorts. “I’m not sure even I’d gothatfar.”
I can’t help but think that Laila’s darkness is somewhat tainted by the Care Bear sitting on my lap.
“Is he in the infirmary too?” I ask.
She nods. “He’s had a blood transfusion, and it sounds like he’s going to be okay.” She shudders. “Imagine if Octavia had actually become a vampire—she would’ve been way too powerful.”
“Did Apollo kill her?”
Laila nods.
